Device for fixing a switch setting device on stock rails of a rail switch

ABSTRACT

In a device for fixing a switch setting device ( 13 ) on stock rails ( 5 ) of a rail switch that features a Mounting for the switch setting device that can be fixed on the stock rails ( 5 ), the mounting is formed by a rigid frame ( 7 ) that connects the two stock rails ( 5 ) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails and is respectively fixed on the web of the stock rails ( 5 ).

The invention relates to a device for fixing a switch setting device onstock rails of a rail switch, comprising a mounting for the switchsetting device fixable on the stock rails.

A device of this type is disclosed, for example, in DE 200 10 922 U1.

The drive unit of a switch setting device usually consists of ahydraulic or electromagnetic drive that is rigidly arranged in a housingbetween the stock rails or, if applicable, outside the stock rails of aswitch and connected to the tongue rails by means of switching rods. Inconventional switch setting devices, the housing of the drive unit ismounted on a sleeper or in a trough sleeper with the aid of acorrespondingly formed holder.

In order to develop a switch setting device that makes it possible toadjust the tongue rails between their abuted and set off position in amore precise fashion, it was already proposed in DE 200 10 922 01 to fixthe mounting for the attachment of the switch setting device directly onthe stock rails of the switch. This is based on the notion that therails are not fixed on the sleepers in an absolutely rigid fashion, butrather allow certain movements of the rails due to thermal expansion ordue to the inertial forces caused by the rail vehicle. This also appliesto the stock rails of a switch, particularly if a layer of a soft,sound-absorbing material is inserted between the stock rails and thesleepers. If the drive unit is conventionally mounted on a sleeper or ina trough sleeper, certain relative movements therefore can occur betweenthe stock rails and the drive unit, wherein these relative movements canresult in certain deviations of the end positions of the tongue railsthat are connected to the drive unit by means of the switching rods.This can lead to damages or even accidents, particularly if the railvehicle runs over the facing point of the switch. Due to the fact thatthe drive unit of the switch setting device is directly fixed on thestock rails with the aid of the mounting, the position of the drive unitand therefore also the position of both tongue rails is directly relatedto the stock rails such that deviations of position of the tongue railsdue to movements of the stock rails are reduced. This makes it possible,in particular, to reduce the variation of the gap between the abutedtongue rail and the corresponding stock rail such that a steadier andless jerky tracking of the wheel flange of the wheel is achieved duringthe crossing of the switch.

The mounting for the attachment of the switch setting device known fromDE 200 10 922 U1 already reduces the relative movements between thestock rails and the switch setting device. However, the mounting ismerely attached to the flange of the stock rails in this case such thatcertain movements of the stock rails can be transmitted to the switchsetting device in this embodiment and relative movements between thestock rails and the switch setting device may still occur. If the stockrails are elastically supported on a solid trackway or on sleepers, inparticular, the movements of the stock rail include tilting movementsthat not only lead to deviations of position of the stock rail, but alsomake it impossible to ensure a sufficient stability for fixing a switchsetting device on the sleeper or trough sleeper.

The present invention is based on the objective of developing a mountingfor a switch setting device that essentially rules out a relativemovement between the switch setting device, in particular the drive unitof the switch setting device, and the stock rail, wherein this should beensured regardless of the respective installation position of the switchsetting device, and wherein it should be possible, in particular, toeasily realize the desired attachment in a trough sleeper, as well as ina sleeper bay, i.e. the space between two sleepers.

To solve this object, the device of the initially defined kind isdevised in a way that the mounting is formed by a rigid frame thatconnects the two stock rails transverse to the longitudinal direction ofthe rails and is respectively fixed on the web of the stock rails. Dueto the fact that the mounting is formed by a rigid frame that connectsthe two stock rails transverse to the longitudinal direction of therails, a correspondingly stable construction is provided that alreadyresults in a stabilization of the stock rails. Since the frame-shapedmounting is respectively fixed on the web of the stock rails, it isfurthermore ensured that any movement of the stock rails and, inparticular, tilting movements of the stock rails are transmitted to therigid frame such that relative movements between the switch settingdevice and the stock rails are effectively prevented because the switchsetting device is rigidly fixed on the frame.

In this case, the mounting that, according to the invention, is devisedin the form of a rigid frame can be simply arranged in a sleeper bay,i.e., in a free space between two adjacent sleepers, or even within atrough sleeper. If the frame is arranged in a trough sleeper, it merelyneeds to be ensured that the frame is held on the stock rails in afreely suspended fashion and not supported within the trough sleeper soas to prevent the transmission of undesirable forces from the stockrails or the frame connected to the stock rails to the stationary troughsleeper.

The frame is preferably fixed on the stock rails in such a way that theframe is arranged underneath the flange of the stock rails and realizedwith or connected to holding elements that respectively encompass theoutside of the rail flange and are rigidly fixed on the web of the stockrails. The holding elements that respectively encompass the outside ofthe rail flange make it possible to realize a connection between theframe and the stock rails that has a particularly high angularstability, wherein a bracing can be easily realized due to the fact thatthe holding elements respectively engage on the outside of the stockrails such that relative movements between the stock rails and the frameactually can be largely ruled out.

The attachment on the stock rail is preferably realized in such a waythat a filler piece is respectively provided on the stock rail, whereinsaid filler piece is screwed to the rail web and supported on the railflange, and wherein it is preferred that the filler piece essentiallyfills out the free space between the rail head and the rail flange. Sucha filler piece essentially serves for producing a positive connectionwith the rail web and for the support on the rail flange such that theconnection between the frame and the stock rails is additionallystabilized. In this case, the holding forces are distributed over thelargest possible contact surface that essentially comprises at least theentire rail web and the rail flange, wherein an additional support onthe underside of the rail head may also be realized in order to preventa point transmission of forces and corresponding stress peaks.

According to a preferred embodiment, an additional improvement can berealized if the frame is both fixed on the outside and on the inside ofthe stock rail. A clamping element that is arranged underneath a switchrail and engages on the stock rail flange is preferably provided for theattachment on the inside of the rail. In a thusly devised embodiment,the rail flange is clamped between the clamping element on the inside ofthe rail and the holding element that engages on the outside of therail.

The frame according to the invention naturally needs to have acorrespondingly high rigidity for offering the rigid connection betweenthe two stock rails. To this end, the embodiment preferably isadditionally developed in such a way that the frame is formed by twosupport plates that are connected to one another by at least two,preferably three braces, particularly web plates, that extend transverseto the longitudinal direction of the rails, wherein the support platesare preferably realized in a U-shape with parallel limbs that extendtransverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails. In this case, thetwo support plates are arranged on the underside of the two stock rails,wherein the U-shaped design creates free space for the installation ofother components between the two parallel U-limbs. Bed plates or ribbedtie-plates for the stock rails can be fixed on both limbs, wherein it ispreferred in this context to insert a ribbed tie-plate or bed plate forthe stock rail into the connection between the frame and the holdingelement.

The braces and, in particular, webs for connecting the two supportplates of the frame need to consist of a sufficiently rigid material,wherein it is preferred to use web plates for this purpose. The webplates are preferably arranged in vertical planes in this case so as toensure a construction with a particularly high torsional rigidity and tosimultaneously reduce the weight.

In railroad engineering, rails are frequently used for the transmissionof electric currents, for example, in order to transmit signals fortrack indicator systems, monitoring devices and the like. In thiscontext, however, it must be ensured that the two stock rails areelectrically insulated. For this purpose it is envisaged that accordingto the invention an electric insulation is preferably inserted into theconnection between the frame and the stock rails.

The inventive frame according to the invention may serve as a mountingfor switch setting devices, as well as for switch rail end-of-travelmonitoring devices and closure devices for switch rails. In this case,the frame preferably features a mounting for the drive unit,particularly the hydraulic piston-cylinder module of the switch settingdevice.

The invention is described in greater detail below with reference toembodiments that are schematically illustrated in the drawings. Inthese,

FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a first embodiment of the inventivedevice,

FIG. 2 shows a representation according to FIG. 1 with adjustingelements fixed on the frame,

FIG. 3 shows a side view according to the arrow III in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged representation in the region of the right stockrail in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the device according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the inventive device in the form ofa top view,

FIG. 7 shows a side view according to the arrow VII in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 shows a section along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6 and

FIG. 9 shows an oblique view of the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 to 8with installed setting device.

FIG. 1 shows a sleeper bay 3 between two schematically indicatedsleepers 1 and 2. Bed plates or ribbed tie-plates 4 for the rails 5 arealso schematically illustrated on the sleepers 1 and 2, wherein thestock rails are merely illustrated in the region of the sleeper bay 3 inorder to provide a better overview. This figure also shows tongue rails6, wherein the tongue rail 6 on the right side is illustrated in theabuting position towards the stock rail 5 and the tongue rail 6 on theleft side is illustrated in the set off position from the stock rail 5.

Furthermore, a frame 7 is provided that is composed of support plates 8and three web plates 9 connecting the support plates. A holding element10 that encompasses the outside of the rail flange is screwed to thesupport plates 8 respectively and serves for fixing the frame 7 on theweb of the stock rails 5. FIG. 1 also shows that the web plates 9feature a mounting 11 for the drive module of a switch setting deviceand a mounting 12 for an end-of-travel monitoring device.

The sleepers and the sleeper bay are not illustrated in FIG. 2 in orderto provide a better overview. In other respects, the illustrationaccording to FIG. 2 essentially corresponds to the illustrationaccording to FIG. 1, wherein a switch setting device 13 and anend-of-travel monitoring device 14 are additionally shown in thisfigure. The switch setting device 14 features a drive module 15 that isfixed on the frame 7 and, in particular, on a web plate 9. Switchingrods illustrated to both sides of the drive module 15 respectivelyengage on the tongue rails 6 by means of a coupling piece 16.Analogously, the tongue rail end-of-travel monitoring device 14 engageson the tongue rails 6 by means of coupling, pieces 17.

FIG. 3 also shows that the frame connecting the stock rails 5 iscomposed of two support plates 8 and the web plates 9, wherein the webplates 9 are welded to the support plates 8. A bed plate or ribbedtie-plate 18 is respectively fixed on the support plates 8 with the aidof a screw connection 19. The holding element 10 that engages on the webof the stock rail 5 by means of a filler piece 20 is also fixed on theribbed tie-plate 18 that serves as a support for the stock rail 5 withthe aid of a screw connection. The corresponding attachment is realizedwith the aid of a screw 21 that extends through the rail web asillustrated, in particular, in the enlarged representation according toFIG. 4. This figure shows that the filler piece 20 is supported on theflange as well as on the underside of the stock rail head of the stockrail 5. The attachment on the inside of the stock rail is realized withthe aid of a clamping element 22 that engages on the stock rail flangeand is fixed on the bed plate or ribbed tie-plate 18 with the aid of ascrew connection 23. In this case, the clamping element 22 needs to beso flat that it can be arranged underneath the tongue rail 6. Anelectric insulation is ensured with an insulating layer 24 that isarranged between the support plate 8 and the bed plate or ribbedtie-plate 18.

The frame 7 is illustrated particularly well in the bottom viewaccording to FIG. 5, wherein this figure shows that the support plates 8are essentially realized in a U-shaped fashion, and wherein the twolimbs 25 of the support plate serve for fixing the bed plates or ribbedtie-plates 18. This figure furthermore shows the three web plates 9 thatconnect the two support plates 8 and are arranged parallel to oneanother in vertical planes. A transverse web 26 is respectively arrangedon both support plates 8 in order to increase the stability.

FIG. 6 shows a modified embodiment, in which the frame is installed intoa trough sleeper 27 as shown, in particular, in FIG. 9. Identicalcomponents are identified by the same reference numerals as in theembodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5. The top view according to FIG. 6as well as the side view according to FIG. 7 and the section accordingto FIG. 8 show that the frame cannot be fixed on the inside of the stockrail in the trough sleeper for space reasons such that the supportplates 8 are extended outward for stability reasons in comparison withthe embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5. Furthermore, insulatingelements are respectively arranged on the outer edge of the rail flangeand on the end of the connecting plate 8 that supports the rail flange.

In the overall view according to FIG. 9, the trough sleeper 27 featuresoutwardly bent support surfaces 28, on which the bed plates 18 for thestock rails 15 are fixed. However, the frame 7 formed by the supportplates 8 and the web plates 9 does not engage on the trough sleeper 27,but merely on the stock rails 5 and, in particular, on the stock railweb and on the stock rail flange and is arranged in the trough sleeper27 in a freely suspended fashion.

All in all, the invention provides a frame that participates in possiblemovements of the stock rail 5 relative to the sleepers. The switchsetting device and, if applicable, the tongue rail end-of-travelmonitoring device therefore is coupled to and vibrates together with aflexible system (stock rail-tongue) such that no relative movements aretransmitted that could disadvantageously affect the fatigue strength ofindividual system components such as, for example, the seals and guidesof the hydraulic adjusting cylinder of the switch setting device.

1. A device for fixing a switch setting device on stock rails of a railswitch, comprising a mounting for the switch setting device fixable onthe stock rails, wherein: the mounting is formed by a rigid frame (7)that connects the stock rails (5) transversely to a longitudinaldirection of the stock rails and is respectively fixed on rail webs ofthe stock rails (5), the frame (7) is arranged in a sleeper bay (3) orfreely suspended in a trough sleeper (27), and movements of the stockrails are transmitted to the frame (7) within the sleeper bay or withinthe trough sleeper.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein theframe (7) is arranged underneath at least one rail flange of at leastone of the stock rails (5) and is connected to a holding element (10)that encompasses an outside of the rail flange and ore is fixed on therail web of the stock fails rail (5).
 3. The device according to claim2, wherein the frame (7) is connected to the holding element (10) with aribbed tie-plate or bed plate (18) for the stock rail (5) beinginterposed between the frame (7) and the holding element (10).
 4. Thedevice according to claim 2, wherein the frame (7) comprises a fillerpiece (20) connecting the holding element (10) to the stock rail (5),wherein said filler piece (20) is screwed to the rail web and supportedon the rail flange.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein thefiller piece (20) fills out free space between a rail head of the stockrail and the rail flange.
 6. The device according to claim 1, whereinthe frame (7) is comprised of two support plates (8) that are connectedto one another by at least two braces that extend transversely to thelongitudinal direction of the stock rails.
 7. The device according toclaim 6, wherein the support plates (8) are formed in a U-shape withparallel limbs (25) that extend transversely to the longitudinaldirection of the stock rails.
 8. The device according to claim 1,further comprising electrical insulation (24) is inserted between theframe (7) and the stock rails (5).
 9. The device according to claim 1,wherein the frame (7) is respectively fixed on an outside of and on aninside of at least one of the stock rails (5).
 10. The device accordingto claim 9, wherein the frame (7) is fixed on the inside of the stockrail with a clamping element (22) that is arranged underneath a switchrail (6) and engages on a rail flange of the stock rail.
 11. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the frame (7) comprises a mounting (11)for a drive unit of the switch setting device (13).
 12. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the frame (7) comprises a mounting (12)for a switch rail end-of-travel monitoring device (14).
 13. The deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the braces are web plates (9).
 14. Thedevice according to claim 11, wherein the drive unit of the switchsetting device (13) is a hydraulic piston-cylinder module.
 15. Thedevice according to claim 3, wherein the frame (7) comprises a fillerpiece (20) connecting the holding element (10) to the stock rail (5),wherein said filler piece (20) is screwed to the rail web and supportedon the rail flange.
 16. The device according to claim 2, wherein theframe (7) comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switchsetting device (13).
 17. The device according to claim 3, wherein theframe (7) comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switchsetting device (13).
 18. The device according to claim 4, wherein theframe (7) comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switchsetting device (13).
 19. The device according to claim 5, wherein theframe (7) comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switchsetting device (13).
 20. A device for fixing a switch setting device onstock rails of a rail switch, comprising a mounting for the switchsetting device fixable on the stock rails, wherein: the mounting isformed by a rigid frame (7) that connects the stock rails (5)transversely to a longitudinal direction of the stock rails and isrespectively fixed on rail webs of the stock rails (5); the frame (7) isarranged in a sleeper bay (3) or freely suspended in a trough sleeper(27), and movements of the stock rails are transmitted to the frame (7)within the sleeper bay or within the trough sleeper; the frame (7) isarranged underneath at least one rail flange of at least one of thestock rails (5) and is connected to a holding element (10) thatencompasses an outside of the rail flange and is fixed on the rail webof the stock rail (5), the frame (7) is connected to the holding element(10) with a ribbed tie-plate or bed plate (18) for the stock rail (5)being interposed between the frame (7) and the holding element (10), theframe (7) comprises a filler piece (20) connecting the holding element(10) to the stock rail (5), the filler piece (20) is screwed to the railweb and supported on the rail flange, the filler piece (20) fills outfree space between a rail head of the stock rail and the rail flange,and the frame (7) is fixed on an inside of at least one of the stockrails with a clamping element (22) that is arranged underneath a switchrail (6) and engages on the rail flange of the stock rail; the frame (7)is comprised of two support plates (8) that are connected to one anotherby at least two braces that extend in the longitudinal direction of thestock rails, and the support plates (8) are formed in a U-shape withparallel limbs (25) that extend transversely to the longitudinaldirection of the stock rails; electrical insulation (24) is insertedbetween the frame (7) and the stock rails (5); the frame (7) comprises amounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting device (13); andthe frame (7) comprises a mounting (12) for a switch rail end-of-travelmonitoring device (14).